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Posted by Hawker on 15:19:28 01/14/08
On the Hawking Trail - Sunday, 14 January, 2008
Participants:
Emilee Trotta nice niece and observer
Mossy Belsito co observer and commentator on the driver s inability to avoid potholes
Hawker chauffer
Purpose - Raptor Expedition with lottery tickets attached
Areas Covered:
1) The Hawking Trail
2) CR 835, Limpkin Lane
3) The Big Prairie
Result:
White tailed Kite, 1, today s target, a long look at a perched bird, the Hawking Trail
Peregrine Falcons, 3, all mature birds, sat patiently, allowing us plenty of time for study, HT
Red tailed Hawks > 20, various ages and shadings, HT
Red shouldered Hawks, too many, including a few pairs, at all locations
Northern Harriers, way too many, including two gray ghosts , at all locations
American Kestrels, several of the endearing little falcons, at all locations
Short tailed Hawk, 1, dark morph, soaring over the now closed Cannon Hammock Park
Crested Caracaras, 5, CR 835 and Big Prairie
Bald Eagle, 1 immature but, attempting to pose regally on a pine snag, BP
Winning Tickets:
Scissor - tailed flycatchers, 2, just south of Ocean Boy perched on the wires, gorgeous and very cooperative animals, allowed a close approach on foot
Western kingbirds, 2, one with the scissor - tailed flycatchers, one at Limpkin Lane (the Cassin s kingbird spot)
Otter, 5 minute view of one casually walking and pausing on a grade, BP
The Hawking Trail: the name Mossy and Hawker give to the labyrinth of grades, levee roads, public agricultural roads, WMA trails, SFWMD canals and farm ditches between the urbanized coastal strip and the Big Prairie.
Grade: in Florida, an unpaved and often narrow road constructed of rock and dirt made from borrowed material creating a ditch on the side(s) of road. Grades need to driven with caution at all times but, particularly after dark.
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